3 Mistakes to Avoid When Using Laser Engraving Machines

Mistakes happen. While you may want to create a great finished product with your engraving machine, there are times that this won’t be possible.

Especially if you are a novice when it comes to using laser engraving machines, unwanted issues could come up. Try not to be discouraged easily, though.

Here are some common mistakes and recommended solutions:

1. Inconsistent Glass Engraving

A common mistake in laser engraving happens when a glass surface is involved.

After all, glass is tricky. When the laser hits the glass, the laser can fracture the glass surface without creating a desirable result. It can either penetrate the glass deeply — and may even destroy it entirely. Or it can eliminate the materials necessary for the machine to fully engrave.

The solution: modify the settings on your machine by lowering the resolution to 300 DPI (more or less). This will create better results on any glass surface.

2. No White Frosty Material

Usually, if acrylic is involved, there should be a frosty white result. Otherwise, you may have made a mistake.

Your mistake is in the type of acrylic.

In laser engraving, cast acrylic and extruded acrylic are two of the ideal types of acrylic. While you can use both of them, using a random one might not be the best idea.

The solution: use the right type of acrylic. Cast acrylic is the best option for laser engraving. It is more expensive, though.

But unlike extruded acrylic, it produces a frosty white result. If you’re after a frosty finish (as an example, for plaques), check whether you used cast acrylic.

3. Slow Laser Engraving Machine

And if your laser engraving machine doesn’t perform the work as fast and as well as it used to, it may mean its optics are the problem.

If its optics haven’t undergone maintenance, your laser engraving machine could slow you down. Finding plenty of residues such as acrylic and wood is also not a good sign.

The solution: clean the machine. Cleaning and maintenance for such machine require at least a day weekly. If you’ve missed out on the responsibility for months, you can tell from the slow performance of the machine. So, have it taken out for cleaning and focus on its optics (in the lens and mirror).

Conclusion

Yes, mistakes happen when using laser engraving machines. But this doesn’t mean that you should be passive about it. Instead, determine a way to solve them.